Community Centers Serving as Warming Stations
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If you’ve been outside today, chances are you’ve felt just how cold it is. Dangerously low temperatures in our area has warming stations filling up and city leaders planning ahead.
Community Centers like Houston Hill, Chisholm and Capitol Heights served as warming stations Wednesday evening as the temperatures plunged.. Ronald Collins is the Acting Director of the Houston Hill Center and says he had a few people come by.
“It’s chilly. It’s going to be cold tonight,” he said. “We’ve been instructed to turn the faucets on and let them drip tonight. I feel sorry for those who are not in a warm place tonight and I’m glad that we’re able to, for a short period of time, comfort them with this cold weather.”
Warming stations in Montgomery and Elmore County kept busy as residents came in from the cold. Director of Public Safety Chris Murphy says law enforcement are also trying to help those in need.
“They know their communities,” he said. “So we’re going to be checking on the elderly, make sure they’re warm and taken care of and things like that. We’re concerned about the homeless, making sure that we get them into the right shelters. Getting information out to the general public that we have warming stations.”
Public libraries will also serve as warming stations on Thursday during regular business hours. And for kids who get out of school into the cold, the community centers can offer them not just a warm place but something to do as well. Patrick Adair coaches basketball at Houston Hill.
“It gives them something to do, basketball practice,” he said. “They love basketball. Any child can come out and play, they are ages from 7 to 15- year-olds.”
These warming stations are only temporary spots for people to get out of the cold. You most likely will not get a meal or a bed. If you are looking for that, The Salvation Army is also open for those who need it.
There are several Elmore County warming stations that will be open tomorrow. Millbrook Church of the Nazarene will be open until mid-morning. Tallassee City Hall will be open until 7AM. First Presbyterian Church of Wetumpka will also be open until mid-morning as will St. James Baptist Church.
